Landscaping and Trails Specialist

City of Boulder

22h•$29 - $41•Onsite

About The Position

Under limited supervision, this position is responsible for the maintenance, repair, and upgrades of the trail system at Valmont City Park, the Parks Department’s irrigation system and all other landscaping duties required to maintain this Regional Facility. It coordinates and performs a variety of skilled irrigation system maintenance, repair and construction, as well as minor plumbing repairs throughout the urban parks system. This role involves performing turf and horticultural maintenance tasks, skilled equipment operation, maintenance, and related crew leader functions. It coordinates and performs a variety of maintenance duties on urban park properties and related duties as required. The specialist will coordinate daily tasks for seasonal staff, volunteers, and any subordinate positions at the park. Key responsibilities include developing and implementing trail system maintenance programs, documenting bike park trail standards and SOPs, understanding and applying principles of trail building geometry and drainage, and regularly inspecting and performing necessary work on the trail system. The position also spearheads and manages trail construction projects, plans modifications with a focus on risk management, and ensures high quality work from employees and volunteers. Additionally, it involves maintaining all park facilities and properties, including irrigation systems, shelters, playgrounds, turf, fences, and other recreational facilities, ensuring they are safe and clean for public use. The specialist trains lower-level employees, ensures safety procedures are followed, performs horticultural and weed management tasks, and ensures proper use and maintenance of vehicles, equipment, and tools. The role also includes performing repairs, construction, and modifications to City Parks irrigation systems, troubleshooting problems, operating heavy equipment, managing pump systems, and utilizing the Irrigation Central Control System. Emergency response work, record keeping, and continuous education are also part of the role.

Requirements

Ability to utilize any required safety equipment including but not limited to normal personal protective equipment and specialized equipment such as harness and oxygen for confined space entries.
Ability to demonstrate experience with related machines, equipment, and tools, including the ability to use a variety of long handle, manual and power tools and equipment.
Ability to plan work activities, to provide performance feedback, and to plan schedules to meet objectives and goals of mission statement, and to keep accurate and timely records of work performed.
Ability to demonstrate experience using personal computers and software such as word processing and email.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word and Excel.
Ability to communicate professionally and courteously with co-workers and the public.
Ability to act as a team member and collaborate with others.
Ability to perform record keeping functions, data entry, and data management.
Knowledge at an advanced level of operational procedures & tools obtained through extensive work experience is required.
Knowledge at an extensive level of the central control system, and all related system components including controllers, flow sensors, and moisture sensors.
Skills in effective organization.
Skills in excellent customer service and communication with the ability to deal tactfully and effectively with the public and co-workers in stressful situations.
Must hold and maintain a valid drivers' license.
Must successfully pass a background check before first day of work and maintain acceptable screening.
High School diploma or equivalent.
Ability to obtain CIT and CLIA certifications within 1 year.
Certified backflow inspector.
Ability to obtain CPR/AED within one (1) year.
A minimum of three (3) years on the job experience in the field of irrigation management, landscape management, trail building and maintenance, or closely related field.
Previous field work experience including repairs.

Nice To Haves

Degree in Landscape Management and Construction or related degree.
Experience with wireless communications for remote access to City of Boulder LAN.
Irrigation Association Irrigation Designer Certification (CID).
Experience working in public environments.
Degree or certification in Electrical Repair/Troubleshooting/Design or related.

Responsibilities

Develops and implements trail system maintenance program.
Develops, documents, and implements bike park trail standards, SOPs for maintenance, and design guidelines.
Understands and applies the relationship between rider speed, trail grade, and spacing of trail features.
Understands and applies knowledge of accurate measurements and geometry for trail building including geometry of berms: radius, apex, and height - geometry of rollers: radius, height, and spacing - geometry of jumps: radius, height/width/length, exit angle, gap size, spacing of sets, width and depth of case pad for sustainability. - geometry of landings: width and depth of case pad, height, length, and angle of landing.
Understands trail features including berms, rollers, jumps, landings, rock features, and wooden features.
Understands expert techniques required to safely build and maintain bike park features including, use of heavy equipment, stacking, shovel packing, roll packing, shaping, and testing.
Applies different techniques depending on dimensions, type, and skill level of trail and its location in the park.
Understands how the orientation/aspect of a trail will be affected by sun exposure, weather, use, drainage, freeze/thaw cycles, moisture retention, etc.
Understands and applies various techniques to ensure proper drainage of trails including the installation of culverts, out-sloping, grade reversals, water bars, French drains, etc.
Regularly performs inspections of the entire trail system; planning, prioritizing, and performing necessary work.
Spearheads and manages all trail construction projects in collaboration with Parks Planning, Risk Management, and other city departments as necessary.
Plans trail modifications and upgrades with a focus on risk management to provide optimal experience for the park user.
Coordinates daily tasks of employees and volunteers ensuring high quality of work and the daily condition of trails.
Coordinates daily tasks of seasonal employee crew and volunteers including training, work planning, field support, communication of goals, and daily safety meetings.
Uses highly skilled and specialized trail building knowledge to make judgements and offer recommendations on trail repairs/builds often carrying a high degree of consequence.
Maintains all park facilities and properties.
Performs regular maintenance on the bike park trail system to provide an optimal experience for bike riders under the direction of the Landscaping and Irrigation Supervisor.
Controls, repairs, and assists in the installation of sprinklers, irrigation piping, and other irrigation system components in coordination with Irrigation Maintenance staff.
Maintains and repairs shelters, playgrounds and other recreational facilities, turf and natural grasslands, fences, trails, picnic tables, benches, drinking fountains, and retaining walls using a variety of carpentry and minor electrical and plumbing skills.
Maintains and renovates turf areas and general park areas in coordination with Turf Maintenance staff.
Ensures that parks are safe and clean for public use.
Regularly performs non-routine tasks with limited supervision.
Trains, delegates, and review the work of lower-level employees including daily work plans.
Ensures all city and department safety procedures, regulations and policies are observed and followed in order to promote a safe work environment and prevent injuries and illnesses.
Enforces and adheres to organizational policies, rules and safety regulations related to people using city vehicles, equipment, and park facilities.
Ensures safe public spaces while completing work tasks and raises safety concerns to appropriate supervisors or contacts.
Trains seasonal staff in safe operation of all equipment and vehicles.
Identifies, addresses or elevates any health and safety risks within the park facilities.
Ensures the safety of self, others, materials, and equipment and uses all required personal protective equipment (PPE).
Takes proper safety precautions, anticipates unsafe circumstances, and acts accordingly to prevent accidents.
Reports all injuries, accidents, and damage to City property on the same day that they occur.
Adheres to all MSDS requirements when using chemicals and is fully aware of the product specifications and required PPE.
Performs horticultural, forestry and weed management tasks in coordination with Horticulture and Forestry staff.
Plans, plants, and maintains flower beds and other plantings.
Tills, fertilizes, mulches, flower beds and other plantings including trees and shrubs.
Prunes trees and shrubs, assists Forester in ensuring trees are maintained in a safe and healthy condition.
Performs weed control in turf, flower beds and other plantings, shrub areas, and general park areas.
Uses proper Integrated Pest Management practices to decrease weed growth in turf areas, natural areas, and general park areas.
Performs proper public notification for fertilization and weed management.
Assists with urban parks and natural lands weed management.
Ensures proper use of vehicles, equipment, and tools to accomplish tasks.
Ensure proper training before operation.
Performs routine cleaning and maintenance on equipment and tools.
Performs basic safety checks and cleaning of all vehicles and equipment before use.
Reports all damage and poorly functioning equipment and vehicles to the Parks Equipment and Fleet Technician.
Updates job knowledge of current park maintenance practices including finding and attending relevant training opportunities.
Performs snow removal, trash removal, and other general maintenance tasks as required.
Maintains records of materials and supplies, orders, purchases, trail modification forms, trail inspection forms, volunteer waivers, and work performed.
Plans work schedule to meet specified objectives.
Recruits, coordinates, and plans volunteer projects including direct supervision of projects to accomplish maintenance goals and build community.
Performs repairs, construction, and modifications to City Parks irrigation systems and minor plumbing installation and repairs to assigned Parks facilities as needed and under minimal supervision from the supervisor.
Trouble shoots, diagnoses, and repairs irrigation system problems including but not limited to main lines, point of connection assemblies, electric valves, backflow devices, manual valves, master valves, wiring and electrical connections, controllers, sprinkler heads, and improper hydraulic conditions.
Operates and maintains heavy equipment including backhoes, skid-steers, mini excavators, and front-end loaders.
Maintains potable and non-potable pump systems, including spring start-ups, summer maintenance, winterization, winter maintenance of pumps, screen cleanings, computerized maintenance, and software up-grades.
Works with irrigation leads to develop a water schedule per park site based on that site’s monthly water budget.
Installs commercial scale sprinkler systems including but not limited to point of connection, backflow prevention, pressure regulation, master valves, controllers, field wiring, various types of pipe and fittings, sprinkler heads, electric valves, etc.
Performs facility plumbing repairs, modifications, and installation (drinking fountains, water hydrants, hose bibs, etc.).
Uses electrical testing equipment such as volt-ohm meter, fault locator, line locator, and toning device for troubleshooting maintenance and repairs.
Reads and uses irrigation and landscape construction plans and as-built plans to perform construction and repairs.
Provides materials take-off and estimates as needed.
Assists with writing specifications for irrigation materials and supplies as needed.
Maintains appropriate irrigation repair parts inventory.
Completes repairs in a safe, proper, and timely fashion.
Tests backflow devices.
Manages the Irrigation Central Control System and coordinates communication repairs and maintenance with irrigation technicians.
Provides support for irrigation technicians on programming, repairs and troubleshooting.
Monitors computer system performance daily via system generated emails and texts.
Reviews system generated trouble warnings daily and generates work orders for oneself and notifies Irrigation Technicians of issues within their assigned areas if appropriate.
Assists with and adjusts irrigation scheduling from the Central Computer or remote computers as necessary using data, time, or flow-based schedules.
Works closely with supervisory personnel and Parks and Recreation Department staff with other irrigation responsibilities.
Prepares cost estimates as requested by supervisor or lead staff.
Maintains accurate records of work performed, including but not limited to asset management software system.
Performs other park and structure maintenance duties including but not limited to: Trash/litter removal, graffiti/vandalism removal and repair, and minor structure repairs as assigned.
Assists with data management and makes recommendations for program and project improvements.
Maintains records work performed, materials and supplies, orders, purchases, safety checklists, equipment use/maintenance, inspections, work orders, snow removal, and safety.
Performs emergency response work for the city that may include tree damage, flood response and recovery, and other emergencies.
Ensures that resource conservation techniques are implemented throughout work responsibilities (recycling, composting, air and water quality protection).
Stays up to date on job related issues such as technical procedures, safety issues, product development and technology improvements.
Continues education regarding computer hardware and software, electrical and electronic equipment, and safety issues.